Pestilence - Consuming Impulse [1989]

After delivering the awesome "Malleus Maleficarum" only a year earlier, Pestilence would unleash this monolith of death/thrash greatness on Christmas of 1989, and I could only imagine how awesome it would've been to unwrap a "Consuming Impulse" LP and see that near-iconic album cover staring back at me (what an unholy holiday that would've been). The thrashy record that preceded this one was a fantastic foundation for the Dutch quartet to build upon and they did just that, as nearly every aspect of the music on their sophomore is improved from the debut. The riffs, vocals, solos, songwriting, rhythm section and every other intangible part of the horrific music is better than it was on "Malleus Maleficarum," making "Consuming Impulse" a must-have for any fan of death metal, thrash metal or all around violent and gut-wrenching music made to crush bones and fracture skulls. 

I can't pick just a single highlight of this record, as it's impossible to choose between Van Drunen's brilliant vocals and the excellent riff-fest courtesy of Patrick Mameli and Patrick Uterwijk. Van Drunen provided one of his best performances on this album (second only to his amazing work on "Last One on Earth"), as he no longer sounded like the thrash frontman from the prior album, but a man who personifies death. Put together his brand of death growls which sound like someone who is dying from a slow shotgun wound to the chest with song titles like "The Trauma" and "Reduced to Ashes" and you've automatically got a winner. Throw in some of the catchiest riffs around and you've got an instant masterpiece. It also helps that the rhythm section is improved as well. I can actually pick out drum fills that caught my attention throughout the record and I never had a problem with the drumming during faster parts of the music or the fills during slower and heavier moments. Even the inclusion of synths at points doesn't bother me as the break in "Suspended Animation" is one of the most memorable moments of the album. The riffs are brutalizing, the vocals are horrendously perfect and the headbanging inevitably painful, yet entirely satisfying. 

When you kick off a record with a death/thrash classic like "Dehydrated" which features a terrific mix of thrashy and death metal influenced riffs, you've gotta wonder how the band would top that song later on, and then they do with another onslaught in "The Process of Suffocation." Every song features riffs of the "to-die-for" variety; riffs that are instantly ingrained in one's DNA and also induce plenty of whiplash, though no song has more chaotic and violent riffage than "Echoes of Death" which would put Demolition Hammer (the masters of violence) to shame. "Deify Thy Master" also balances out the heavy with the darker material with its sweet tremolo passages and melodies that foreshadowed what was to come later on in the band's constantly evolving discography. "Consuming Impulse" isn't only a vast improvement from the already stellar debut album, but a masterful work that has stood the test of time as one of the best death/thrash full-lengths ever. I can't recommend this album enough, so I'll let the music do the talking for me and if you haven't had the pleasure of listening to Pestilence's finest work, prepare to be reduced to ashes. 

Highlights
"Dehydrated"
"The Process of Suffocation"
"Suspended Animation"
"Echoes of Death"

Final Rating
Masterpiece [9.5/10]

Pestilence - Malleus Maleficarum [1988]

It probably isn't even necessary to get into any kind of detailed intro for this band. Pestilence is the reason for a couple of massive things in the metal world. Firstly, this is where the death metal god Martin Van Drunen got his start before venturing off onto other amazing projects (including Asphyx, Hail of Bullets and even Bolt Thrower for a bit). The other notable deed from the Dutch masters is the release of this awesome record "Malleus Maleficarum" and the masterpiece that is "Consuming Impulse." This album is the first of what would be a varied discography for Pestilence, as none of their full-lengths sound the same. The debut is definitely the most raw release (and it could even be considered primitive if compared to the later albums) and shows this four-piece band excelling in a genre that was still at a creative peak with other top-notch thrash releases like Morbid Saint's vicious "Spectrum of Death," Coroner's dark, technical thrashterpiece "Punishment For Decadence" and Forbidden's awesome debut "Forbidden Evil." 

I mentioned that this is the band that saw the introduction of my all-time favorite death metal vocalist Martin Van Drunen. However, his vocals on "Malleus Maleficarum" are unlike his tortured growls of his latter work, as they're more suited for a violent thrash group because they're much less throaty or deep, sounding like a mix of Chuck Schuldiner and Jeff Becerra. The riffage, too, is much more thrash-oriented than the band's later albums, but it doesn't affect the quality whatsoever. The wicked riffs that are seemingly littered throughout this album could hang with just about any of the others heard on plenty 1988 releases. The rhythm section didn't really do anything overly impressive, but they did their job well and that's plenty enough to make the music here heavy and headbang-friendly. The lead guitar work is another highlight on this album as the two guitarists showed that they're not just playing brutal riffs and trying to be heavier than the every other band, but that they're capable of writing memorable songs filled with awesome melodies and solos. 

The album-opener "Malleus Maleficarum/Antropormophia" starts the record off on a darker note with a kickass buildup featuring tremolo riffage which eventually leads to some thrashy riffs from hell. "Chemo Therapy" is an absolute curbstomper of a track with its whiplash-inducing riffs and an incredibly catchy chorus. "Parricide" and "Cycle of Existence" are just further proof that Pestilence are indeed masters at riff-crafting, with terrific midpaced sections and vile tremolo bursts. There aren't any complaints that could be made about "Malleus Maleficarum," and while it may not be as good as the record that came after it is still a quality listen and an album that is very worthy of your time. Let's just add this album to the list (and it's a pretty decent size list) of brilliant releases from the Dutch, sit back and bang our heads silly to some of the finest death/thrash to be bestowed upon the metal masses. 

Highlights
"Parracide"
"Chemo Therapy"
"Cycle of Existence"

Final Rating
Awesome [8.7/10] 

Asphyx – Embrace the Death [Recorded: 1990. Released: 1996]

“Embrace the Death” is Asphyx’s true debut album. Although it didn’t see the light of day until 1996 (Thus making it their 4^th released album), the songs were actually written in 1988/89 and the album was recorded in 1990. Due to a dodgy label boss pulling a runner with all the recording money, this brilliant album was lost to the void for a few years. Unfortunate, as this is one of their best releases.

One peculiar thing you may notice upon hearing this record is that some of the songs have been released on other Asphyx albums in rearranged and rerecorded forms; some times appearing under a different title. Most of these mentioned tracks are presented in a more primitive and raw form here.

The main thing that I like about “Embrace the Death” is that it showcases Asphyx at their most evil, unpolished and obscure sounding. The rough and unprofessional production job makes it sound more like a demo than a full length, which only adds to the dark and heavy feeling.

Most of the songs tend to stick to a slow-to-mid pace, really focusing on the doomier aspects of the Asphyx signature sound. Sadly, this and “God Cries” are the only two Asphyx albums that featured the vocal and bass talents of Theo Loomans (R.I.P.), a man who brought a very rough and brutal edge to the band. His vocal style didn’t differ too much from Van Drunan, but his input helped to embrace the more barbaric side of Apshyx, which sets “Embrace the Death” apart from the rest of their catalog.

“Embrace the Death” is a forgotten classic and an essential part of any Asphyx collection. Or any old-school death metal collection, really.

Highlights: 

Embrace the Death

The Sickened Dwell

Crush the Cenotaph

Final Rating: Awesome [8/10]

Burial – Relinquished Souls [1993]

Burial is an obscure Dutch death metal band that formed in ’91 and proceeded to release one demo and one album then, due to issues with their drummer, disbanded in 1993. Apparently the band was resurrected a few years ago.

Burial were very obviously influenced by the early works of two specific American death metal bands: Massacre and Death. There is no denying that this whole album reeks of fanatic worship of these two legendary Floridian acts. So, given that most of you will be familiar with these two bands, you should already have a good idea what to expect; technical yet powerful and catchy headbanging riffs, precise drumming, fast, thrashing tempos, complex song structures and aggressive vocals that could give Kam Lee a run for his money.

After hearing the killer opening track “The Second Coming”, the listener instantly knows what they’re in for and it’s one hell of a bloody ride! Along with the previously mentioned Massacre and Death influence, you’ll also find fleshripping thrashing moments that bring to mind old-school “brutal” thrash bands such as Demolition Hammer and Morbid Saint, which should definitely keep the average old-schooler entertained!

The real highlight of “Relinquished Souls” lies in the guitar playing. The riffs are complex but still catchy and nearly every song has multiple solos. The bass, drums and vocals are all great but the two guitarists really on a whole other level. It really is a shame that this band only released one demo and album before fading into obscurity, as I would love to know how they would have progressed over time.

Highlights:

"Traumatized"

"Abhorence Within"

"Frigid Cold"

Final Rating: Awesome [8.5/10]

If you’re a fan of old-school early 90’s death metal, I would highly recommend picking up the reissue of this album through Memento Mori Records.

Pentacle - ... Rides the Moonstorm [1998]

Fronted by Wannes Gubbels, who you may recognize as a former member of death metal legends Asphyx, Pentacle is an old-school death metal band that was formed way back in 1989 who combine the influences of early Celtic Frost, Death, Asphyx, early Pestilence and 80’s German thrash into a delicious melting pot of old-school metal.

Pentacles sound consists of razor-sharp thrashy death metal riffage with a Celtic Frosted guitar tone, mostly d-beat drumming that occasionally changes it up, Van Drunen/John Tardy-esque vocals and barely audible but solid bass work. The tempos are mostly mid-fast paced and rather thrashy with the occasional slow and heavy intro. The production is standard for mid-90’s death metal; thin and distorted guitars, not much bass and a decent but slightly dull drum sound.

Production flaws aside, and excusing the 50 minute length which tends to drag the album out a bit longer than it should, “… Rides the Moonstorm” is a killer album full of great songs such as; “Yielding to the Scepter of Flesh”, the opening title track, “Baptism in a Fiery Void” and “Raised by Nights Chaos”, to name a few. With a band motto like “Don’t forget the ancient feeling… it still rules!!!”, it’s pretty clear what Pentacle is all about and they do a good job at keeping the classic death metal spirit alive.

Highlights:
"Yielding to the Scepter of Flesh"
"Baptism in a Fiery Void"
"Raised by Nights Chaos"

Final Rating:
Awesome [8.5/10]

Nocturn - Estranged Dimensions [1991]

There are a lot of people out there who take any random underground band and their album, then proclaim them to be the greatest band ever and then try and compare them to legends of the genre, which is highly stupid and usually is nothing more than some fan trying to be cool by being able to namedrop an obscure act. This also tends to happen a lot with death/thrash bands, as I've seen just about every band out there being praised by someone, while they slobber all over about how "random death/thrash album" is just as good as "The Awakening," "Final Holocaust," and other masterpieces. However, Nocturn is a band that I feel is pretty close to being worthy of such admiration, as their brand of music is stunning to say the least. Coming from the Netherlands, they were already in the shadow of the death/thrash masters in Pestilence and the incredible Thanatos, but Nocturn's music was definitely different. The music on the band's debut (and only full-length) album "Estranged Dimensions" isn't focused on the brutality aspect, rather they evoke a very dark atmosphere. 

A simple descriptor for the band and the songs on "Estranged Dimensions" would be something like a much more evil sounding Morbid Saint. While Nocturn aren't as vicious and hostile as the "Spectrum of Death" creators, they make up for it with the dark aura that is found throughout the record. The title track that opens up the album starts with some heavy powerchords and a grim sounding melody before the abrasive vocals eventually find their way through. A lot of death/thrash songs are usually fast and aggressive, but the song carries on at a very slow and creeping pace as the melodies bring that eerie feel and the very harsh vocals crush the listener, making for a nice change of pace. "Delirium Tremens" and "Shades of Insanity" also deviate from the path at certain points, with their gloomy, yet beautiful melodies and stark, heavy riffs. 

The only thing that held this album back from being better was the length of some of the songs. I have no problem if bands want to write longer material, but they had better be able to hold my attention. Nocturn, did not accomplish this on every track, with "Delirium Tremens" and "Century of Execration" being the two best examples. Both songs featured some great riffs and stellar moments, but there were also points in the songs where they went nowhere or repeated themselves. Had those two tracks been more like "Altered Evolution," a song that clocks in at just a little over eight minutes, then "Estranged Dimensions" would definitely have ranked higher, as this track had plenty going for it: the aforementioned riffs, melodies, and everything else simply worked here and kept my headbanging for the whole duration. Nocturn comes with the highest recommendation as their music will easily please fans of acts like Ripping Corpse, Revenant, Infernal Majesty and other thrash bands who brought the extreme aggression, as well as some unfathomable darkness. 

Highlights

"Altered Evolution"

"Graveyard Without Crosses"

"Morbid Shining"

Final Rating

Damn-Near A Masterpiece [8.9/10]

Creepmime - Shadows [1993]

Progressive death metal (or progressive anything for that matter) is a genre of music that I actually go out of my way to avoid. It's just boring to my ears, and I'd rather be pummeled by Bolt Thrower-like grooves, submerged by the doomy excellence of Autopsy or mesmerized by the phenomenal music of a Dismember or a Convulse. But, there are always exceptions to any rule, and the Netherlands' own Creepmime is the exception to my own personal preference. There aren't any keyboard solos or piano interludes on "Shadows," nor are there any intricate structures that seem to go nowhere or terrible clean vocals thrown in, just incredibly solid death metal that compliments the Netherlands scene nicely. 

While Asphyx are the kings of death/doom over in the Netherlands, Creepmime manages to conjure up some great melodies and riffs that have a very doomy edge to them. In fact, this whole record is based around midpaced riffs that are highly driven by melodies. "Soon Ripe, Soon Rotten" and "My Soul Flayed Bare" both have intros that feature fantastic melodies that are both memorable and atmospheric, while "The Fruits of Ill Virtue" and "Chinese Whispers" command the listener's attention with stellar midpaced riffs that are interwoven with top-notch melodic passages throughout. As with any band that tries to create a sort of aura, Creepmime does a brilliant job of bringing forth a dark and gloomy feeling that is most present on "Gather the Shattered," but there is also a subtle upbeat and almost happy vibe that can be heard throughout, and that's mainly because of the insane amount of melody present (And I don't mean that melo-death, Gothenburg kind of melody, that's terrible). 

As you would expect from a progressive band, the bassist and drummer both get in some decent to great fills, but they never really command the music, as it should be. The soloing on this album is also fantastic, again as expected. The vocals are typical death metal fare, and they sound damn-near identical to Dave Ingram during his performance on "The Grand Leveller." Overall, "Shadows" isn't the most premier death metal album around, but it definitely stands out and is worth giving a listen if you're a fan of bands like Autopsy, diSEMBOWELMENT, Winter, Amorphis and the like. 

Highlights

"The Fruits of Ill Virtue"

"Suffer the Shadows"

"My Soul Flayed Bare"

Final Rating

Awesome [8.5/10]

Bestial Summoning - The Dark War Has Begun [1992]

I have never been an expert on the black metal genre, but I do know that Norway, Canada and Australia boast bands that just aren't to be fucked with. Bestial Summoning, on the other hand, is a band that hails from the Netherlands, a country better known for death metal acts like Asphyx and Pestilence, as well as thrash bands like Dead Head and Occult/Legion of the Damned, so my expectations honestly weren't that high upon my first listen of "The Dark War Has Begun." Whether or not having set the bar lower for this record had any effect on my perception of it, I don't know, but I do know that these guys aren't to be taken lightly, sounding like they couldn't decide whether or not to embrace the atmospheric tendencies of the Norwegians or the sheer brutality of the Canadian blasphemers. 

If I were to sit here and describe one song for you, the same could be said for the rest of the tracks. All of the songs feature some fast black metal styled tremolos backed by incredibly ferocious drumming. And just about every track has a doomy break or features some chords that awaken a sense of dread, courtesy of the amazing guitar tone which invokes a dark feeling that the Norwegians excelled at. The blending of the two different archetypes for the black metal genre worked out brilliantly on "The Dark War Has Begun," because despite the constant repetition throughout the record, the listener can be treated to the raging fury of the Blasphemy-like madness, as well as the more sinister material that shares more common interest with bands like Mayhem and early Immortal. 

The most standout part of Bestial Summoning's music would definitely have to be The Unsane's vocals. This dude sounds pissed, almost like he had been caged by some religious group, only for him to eventually become unhinged and release his anger as well as his love for the unholy (Listen to "Give Me Your Orders" and "Enjoy Your Death for Satan") to the very unwilling masses. I wouldn't say that this album is the best black metal album to ever cross my path, but it is definitely a fun one that comes with all of the evil, the darkness, and the hilarious band names that I have become accustomed to and serves as one that any black metal fan should check out. 

Highlights

"Exorcism Fails"

"Give Me Your Orders"

"Enjoy Your Death for Satan"

Final Rating

Awesome [8.5/10]

Sinister - Diabolical Summoning [1993]

The Netherlands may not have a scene as prolific as the mighty Swedes or the Americans, but the bands that were around in the early nineties offered some really good death metal whether it was from Asphyx, Pestilence, Creepmime or Gorefest, there was always a guarantee of quality from their releases and Sinister's sophomore record "Diabolical Summoning" is no exception. While the band's first full-length "Cross the Styx" showed a lot of talent and potential for the young band, their second album would really identify the band as a serious group in the death metal underground. The sound is tighter and the music is much more memorable all around from the riffs to the solos to the skull splitting vocals, drums and everything else, this record just kicks all kinds of ass from the start. 

The track "Sadistic Intent" wastes no time in battering the listener with an awesome transitioning between the thumping bass line and heavy riffage, before turning into one hell of a moshing track full of midpaced mayhem and death metal tremolos laced with intense drumming. The best aspect of Sinister's music on "Diabolical Summoning" would definitely be their ability to create music that is heavy and brutal without overdoing it and sounding like a Cannibal Corpse or Suffocation clone, but rather a more extreme version of Malevolent Creation, especially during the song "Magnified Wrath" which comes complete with palm-muted powerchords that crush oh so similarly to songs from the masterpiece that is "Retribution." This record doesn't depend on being evil to get its point across and aside from the intro to "Leviathan," there is never a need for any melody to set a tone or create an atmosphere, only violent and repulsive riffs are needed for this and tracks like the title track and "Mystical Illusions" are perfect for the occasion. 

Mastrigt's vocals aren't anything too amazing or worth bragging about, but they do their job well and compliment the insane music, not leaving anything more to be desired. There are a couple instances where the bass makes its presence felt ("Sadistic Intent" and "Leviathan") but overall nothing worth a lot of praise. The drumming on this record, however, is superb and consistent throughout, whether it's because of the thunderous double bass pedals that push the tempo well beyond fast or because of the added heaviness of the adequate fills. When all is said and done, "Diabolical Summoning" doesn't surpass albums like "Last One On Earth" or "Consuming Impulse," but it does find itself comfortably resting among the country's best death metal outputs in the twentieth century, and is definitely worth checking out for any fan of heavy music.

Highlights

"Sadistic Intent"

"Magnified Wrath"

"Leviathan"

Final Rating

Awesome [8.6/10]

Pyathrosis - Fields of Unceasing Death (Demo) [1991]

Coming straight out of the Netherlands is a very underrated and overlooked death metal band by the name of Pyathrosis. Their "Fields of Unceasing Death" demo is absolutely brilliant in every sense of the word. It came out in 1991 which was a pinnacle year for the entire death metal genre and as far as the Netherlands went, all eyes were on Aspyhx's debut record "The Rack" and Pestilence's "Testimony of the Ancients," but this five track demo is really the hidden gem of the time. 

The first two songs on this record are a one-two punch of groovy, heavy and dirty death metal at it's absolute finest, crushing the listener with an onslaught of catchy midpaced riffs with the same intensity and fervor of those that could be found on Bolt Thrower's "Realm of Chaos" record. The title track clocks in at a just a little over seven minutes, but every second of this song is amazing and those seven minutes just fly by while the listener's neck writhes in utter pain at the pleasure of having headbanged like a wild animal for seven minutes straight. 

After the first two songs are through, Pyathrosis speeds things up a bit with the song "Drowning Soul" that features the first glimpses of the band's use of the traditional death metal tremolos as opposed to the groovy perfection earlier on. The very low growls of the singer are also a highlight on this song as they are a bit more focused with the heavy powerchords backing them, making for a downright savage song. The final song on this demo, "Eradicated Evil" is the slowest song on this album and features some almost doomy chords that mix in perfectly with the continued midpaced mayhem that was seen at the beginning of the "Fields of Unceasing Death" demo. 

This demo is the definition of a hidden gem and it's a shame that this band never released a full-length because it would have been phenomenal to see these guys play alongside their fellow countrymen in the legendary Asphyx. Oh well, at least this 24 minute demo exists and I can play over and over until my black heart is content. 

Highlights

"Slithery Flesh"

"Fields of Unceasing Death"

"Wrecked Sacrament"

Final Rating

Masterpiece [9.0/10]